Josh Hamilton Injury: Updates on Angels Star's Recovery from Shoulder Surgery

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton underwent surgery on Feb. 3 to repair damage to the AC joint in his right shoulder and is expected to miss an extended period of time.

Continue for updates.

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Hamilton Won't Face Suspension, 'Working Hard' to Get Back on Field

Friday, April 3

MLB released a statement Friday stating that Hamilton will not face discipline or suspension following the star player's relapse. In light of that, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reported that "Hamilton is 'working hard' to get back on field, sources say. But there's no specific timetable for his return."

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Hamilton Actively Rehabbing

Tuesday, March 10

"Josh Hamilton continues to actively rehab and has taken at least one round of BP, Dipoto said," per Aiden Gonzalez of MLB.com.

On Feb. 20, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reported Hamilton could miss more time than originally expected:

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General Manager Jerry Dipoto acknowledged on Friday that Hamilton, who underwent surgery on the AC joint in his right shoulder on Feb. 4, could be sidelined for at least a month longer than the original prognosis of a six- to eight-week recovery.

“It could be six to eight weeks, it could be as much as 12 weeks,” Dipoto said. “He had a bone shaved down to create less friction in an arthritic shoulder. Until he gets on site and on the field, it’s tough to determine how long it will take.”

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Hamilton Undergoes Successful Surgery

Wednesday, Feb. 4

DiGiovanna reported the Angels announced Hamilton's surgery to repair the AC joint in his right shoulder was successful.

A five-time All-Star, Hamilton is entering the third year of a five-year, $125 million contract with the Angels. To put it mildly, the first two have been disappointments. After averaging 28.4 home runs per season during his five-season run with the division rival Texas Rangers, Hamilton's belted only 31 thus far in Los Angeles.

He struggled through a nightmare 2013 campaign and was seemingly on his way to a comeback in 2014 before injuries reared their head. A torn thumb ligament cost him nearly two months in April and May, and discomfort in his right shoulder kept him on the shelf for most of September. While he came back for the Angels' abbreviated postseason run, he was hitless in 13 at-bats, as the Kansas City Royals advanced in a three-game sweep.

That lack of production has left him the brunt of scorn from many Angels fans, who took to booing him regularly at points this past season. Having the surgery now—just a couple of weeks away from spring training—rather than the offseason likely won't do much to improve that chilly relationship.

But the good news is he should be back for the beginning of the regular season. If the procedure gets him right and he begins performing like the MVP-caliber player he was in Texas, this will all be forgotten. If not, the increasingly albatrossian deal will look more so as the Angels rely on Mike Trout and others to pick up the slack.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.